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You could also make sure that you involve the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the CRE, in order to ensure that you have done everything that can then be regarded as reasonable and practicable, in agreeing whatever way forward you will come up with. We need to remember that not everyone in our institutions (students or staff) will always agree with whatever is concluded as the best way forward in dealing with institutional, staff and student needs. However if we can, from an institutional point of view, demonstrate through evidence, that what we have implemented is the best possible reasonable and practicable solution based on communication, consultation and meaningful inclusion of all those who need to be involved, then we will be able to justify our action to anyone on any forum, if needs be. This is the best response that any institution can be expected to adopt and/or adapt, in any instance where institutional employment or service provision practice is called to account. Regards Mannie -----Original Message----- From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fehmeeda Riaz Sent: 26 August 2004 11:29 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Pentecost Festival for Jewish students Dear Colleagues, We have been dealing with a sensitive and potentially difficult situation regarding special exam arrangements for Orthodox Jewish students who were observing the Pentecost Festival in June but alerted us to their requirements at a very late stage. I know that the Equality Challenge Unit is due to produce some further guidance in this area later on in the year, but I would be very grateful if colleagues could offer any advice on this, particularly if they have had similar requests at their institutions and how they have dealt with them. We are totally committed to embracing diversity and promoting equality and want to be as flexible and accommodating as possible but there are clear logistical problems with trying to timetable hundreds of exams for a community of approximately 23,000 students. There is also the potential for creating a dangerous precedent or causing potential friction with other students who may also have special needs with regards to religious festivals/observance during assessment periods. With best wishes Fehmeeda Fehmeeda Riaz Employee Relations Adviser (Diversity) University of Westminster HR Department 9-18 Euston Centre Tel: 0207-911-5776 This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at Trinity Development immediately on +44 (0)191 350 6538 quoting the name of the sender and the addressee and then delete it from your system. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. Finally, the recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The company accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.